Help with handling

I purchased my new baby ball on Saturday, and she readily fed on a hopper. I have given her 3 days now to digest and relax, and tried holding her a bit tonight. She was very hissy, so I let her be. I realize she is very new and is to be expected, but was wondering is there a time frame I should give her before I start to pick her up? I have already been struck on feeding night (not as big of a deal as I have always feared). I am completely new to snake keeping, and have read and watched several articles and videos, but severely lack in the hands on department. Any advice is greatly appreciated :D :D

Generally, you want to give them a week or two to settle in before handling them. Keep in mind, hatchlings are often very hissy. From her point of view you're a giant predator. They usually calm down as they get bigger.

She will do better as you become more comfortable with her. Babies are nippy and skittish. Use short periods frequently for handling. Ten to fifteen minutes at a time, three or four times a day. Then slowly increase the time.

Don't worry about being bitten. A cat bites harder than a baby ball. Once it happens you will be embarrassed that you were afraid of being bitten. Be calm, be confident and be patient. Good luck!

Thank you both for the advice!! I'll be patient nd give her some time. She is a really chilled out snake, just peeking out of her hides to scope out some enclosure maintenance, but is iffy on being touched. I can't wait to hold her :D

Out of curiosity, how were you bitten on feeding day (or am I misinterpreting "struck on")? Were you offering the prey by hand (instead of feeding tongs), or moving her to another enclosure for feeding, etc.?

I put her in a seperate feeding tub. I offered a F/T hopper with tongs which she readily ate. I had reached in (very slowly) and was wacked on the thumb, after giving her about twenty mintutes to eat. It was a smaller tub though, like a plastic Rubbermaid shoebox, so maybe she felt threatened? I have a larger plastic tub I can use I needed.

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Originally Posted by blafiriravt

I put her in a seperate feeding tub. I offered a F/T hopper with tongs which she readily ate. I had reached in (very slowly) and was wacked on the thumb, after giving her about twenty mintutes to eat. It was a smaller tub though, like a plastic Rubbermaid shoebox, so maybe she felt threatened? I have a larger plastic tub I can use I needed.

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This is precisely why I recommend AGAINST feeding in a separate tub. She was either defensive because she is more vulnerable during/after eating, or she was still in feeding mode. Feed her in her enclosure. She is obviously more likely to assume your hand is food or a threat when you reach in to handle her right after eating, than if her food always comes via metal tongs.

But hey, at least now you know a bite is nothing to fear. ;-)

I'd suggest feeding her in her enclosure. Cage aggression is largely a myth with bps, despite what the pet store says.

ive been feeding my ball in his enclosure and never had a problem with handling ... probably because when i feed i use pliers so when he sees my hand he already knows its not feeding time. Although i have been worried about him swallowing the aspen substrate.

Taking her out into another feeding tub is just stressing her out and possibly making her even more defensive. I wouldn't even dare reach into my snake's tank when I'm thawing a rat in my room. She gets all predator mode and tracks everything with a heat sig which include my hands! (she eats like a pig).

And you really have to leave her alone for at least a week. It's way too stressful for her. I would even say 2 weeks!